Protective device



R. MALCOM, JR

` ROTECTIVE DEVICE '3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 28, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

llg- 12, 1952 R. MALCOMJJR 2,606,321

PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed July 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Aug. 12, 1952 R. MALcoM, JR

PROTECTIVE DEVICE I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1950 Inventor RobertMalcom Jn Dna/Solv gs 00H5' Patented Aug. 12, 1952 PROTECTIVE DEVICERobert Malcom, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assigner to Chicago Eye ShieldCompany, Chicago,.lll., a

corporation of Illinois Application July 28, 1950, Serial No. 176,400

7 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for protecting the head and faceportion from injury by flying debris or particles such as are effectedduring the processes of welding, spray-painting, grinding, toolsharpening, metal cutting, sand blasting, and the like, and it relatesmore particularly to face masks or face shields.

This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application,Serial No. 111,119, filed on August 19, 1949, and entitled Face Shield,which applicationvis now abandoned.

In present commercial practice the mask or face-shield portion of thedevice is usually provided in the form of a plastic sheet or the likewhich is secured at its rigid upper-end portion to a more rigid metal orfiber band so that the depending mask portion can project as a barrierin front of the wearers face when in position of use. The supportingband is in turn pivoted at its ends to a head gear adapted lto seat onthe head of the wearer. The chief objection to constructions of thistype of protection device resides in the Xed relation Which usuallyexists between the mask portion and the head band. When so constructed,it is diliicult if not impossible for the user to replace the mask orface shield with a new one when the old becomes unt for the purpose for.which it was intended. The shield portions cannot be interchanged easilyso that the device is substantially inexible and can be made suitablyfor only one generaltype of use. This requresa number of differentstructures to be stocked in order to have proper protection availablefor various operations that are carried out in production.

More important, the expansion .characteristics of the materials of whichthe shield and the carrying band are formedare usually sufficientlydiierent to set up strains under operating conditions which causebucklingV and distortion of the more flexible face shieldto the end thatit often becomes unfit for the purpose for which it was intended. 'y

When formed of plastic materials, such as cellophane, cellulose acetate,Pliolite, ethyl cellulose, methylmethacrylate or the like, materialswhich are subj ect to cold ow and even more sensitive thereto atelevated temperatures, deformation of the plastic sheet may occur suchas cannot be compensatedvbecause of the rigid connection with thecarrying bandA to the extent that buckling and distortion of the shieldoften results. An object of this inventionis to produce a protectivedevice which is not Vsubject to thevobjectionable features of the typedescribed'.v j

. 2 Another object is to produce a protective device having aface-shield member which may be easily and quickly mounted initsassembled relation on-the supporting band andV which` may be asquickly and easily removed. f A further-object is to produce aprotective device of the type described in which the face shield is notmounted in v-ixed relation ontothe supporting band but such relativemovement is permitted as will compensate for cold ilow of thematerialand differences in expansion of the materials without bucklingordistortion of the parts. Y I 1 A still further object-is to produceaprotective device of the type described in Which the face-shieldmember-can be quickly and Veasily interchanged to permit widespread useofthe more expensive head gear With -face-l shields of various types andsizesywhich may be more easily stocked than the entire unit. Anotherobject is to provide a protective device of the `type'described inwhichthe faceshield member is resiliently held inmounted relation but inwhich suicient relative movement -is permitted between the face-shieldmember and its support to nullify changes `in dimension and to permitdesirable adjustmentsV with respect thereto. l

In order to economize on the supplyof protective devices stocked, it isadvisable to have a head-gear unit-which may be readily adjusted in sizeto t various shapesand sizes of heads of the prospectiveV Wearers.creasingor decreasing .the head size of the head gear are notuncommonbut ithas vbeen .found 4that changes in dimensionoften causemodication of the angular .relation of the head-gear members, whichmodification has been necessarily transmitted to the supporting band tothe extent that either the head gear becomes uncomfortable to the.wearer or else the changed angular relationship of the supporting bandcauses buckling or distortion of the face shield.

It is therefore a stillv further object o1 this inventionto'produce. adevicer of thetype described which. automatically. compensatesv fordifferences in size and shape ofthe `head of the wearer.

A further' object is to produce an improved protective device of theVtype described which is formed vof, relatively few simple parts that.are easy ,to operateand adjustY for effecting the desired mountedorjurmiounted` relation, and in -which the lface-shieldv .portion may,be easily; in,-

terchanged .one .with another to make best'use of the device forparticular operations.

Provisions for in- These and other objects andY advantages of thisinvention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, butnot of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in theaccompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of oneform of a protective device embodying features of this invention. Fig. 2is an enlarged side elevational view partially in section of the deviceshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 3-3 of Figure 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view correspondingto that of Fig. but showing la modified form of the invention. Fig. 6 isa sectional view similar to that of Fig. 4 showing a still furthermodification. Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a protective deviceembodying.

a still further modification in the practice of this invention. Fig. 8is a iront elevational view of the protective device shown in Fig. 7.Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-'9 ofFig. 7. Fig. 10 is `a sectional view taken substantially along the line||l|0 of Fig. 8. Fig. l1 is an enlarged perspective view of the faceshield and band arrangement employed in the device shown in Fig. '7.Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of the deviceshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1-3 is a sectional elevational View takensubstantially along the line |3|3 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a sectionalelevational view taken substantially `along the line |4|4 of Fig. 13.,Fig 15 is a perspective view of a modified `form of face shield whichmay be used in the practice of this invention. Fig. 16 vis a sectionalview taken along the line Vlf3-I6 of Fig. 15.

The face shield embodying features of this in vention is indicated kbythe numeral lil. It in cludes a head gear 'for positioning the device onthe head ofthe wearer. The head gear may consist o a head band Iprovided at its overlapping rearward end portions with slots |2 theoverlapping ends being slidable ina curvilnearsleeve I3. A bolt |4 and'nut l5 operate through an intermediate portion of the ,sleeve forclamping the overlapping ends of the head band vlll in Vtheir adjustedrelation Within 'the 'sleeve |-3 whereby the head :band may -bedimensioned 4to correspond tothe particular head sizeof the wearer. Atransverse head piece i6 may be secured `at its ends to the :head bandas by Aa number of spaced-rivets forthe purpose'of providing contactover the cranium .portion Vfor :comfortably locating the head gearontheihead of the wearer. A'pair of invertedU-shapedconnectingaelements, which will hereinafter'be described ingreaterA de..- tail, arealso securedto the head band H'bythe rivetmembers |1.

The headgear may also-'have a protective shield portion20 formed ofrelatively'rigid.material,and having .a'depending ilangedlportion 21awhichzis adapted to` mount .a curvilinear face-.shield supporting -band2| xed thereto, as by rivets 522. J It will be understood'thatthe'bandmember 2.| Vmay be formed as apart of the flanged portionl2la. The band2| forms a relatively rigid curvedsupport that is adapted'to overlie theforehead portion of the 'wearer :when in positionrof use, .that is, whenthe head band of the head gear-is rocked to a lowered posi-tion ofadjustment. VThe supporting .band 2l is Aalso provided `witha"b1vacl et23 in the form of adep'ending-'iianged member-'fior carrying aspring-pressed {ball-and-socketijoint 24 which 'permits `the3head b'andto bef rocked 4 between raised and lowered positions of adjustment.

The supporting band 2| is provided in its outer surface with alongitudinal recessed or grooved portion 26 which is adapted to receiveprojections in the form of buttons 21 formed in the upper edge portionof a face-shield member 28. The shield 23 is preferably formed oftransparent material which is somewhat flexible, such as from plasticsheet stock or wire screening, as will hereinafter be described. Thegroove or recess 25 and the buttons 2l form interengaging parts whichare adapted to located the face shield 28 in position of use on theouter surface of the support 2| but in such manner as will permitsliding movement of the buttons laterally Within the groove tocompensate for differences in expansion between the material of whichthe face shield is formed and the material of which the supporting bandis formed. Such slidable interconnection between the face shield 'andthe band also vpermits lateral adjustment of the face shield relative tothe head gear for various purposes -and to meet various circumstances-which may arise in use.

As previously described, the bracket 23 is formed of an extension of theband 2| and another piece of relatively rigid sheet stock 23a. The twoare fixed together in juxtaposed relation by flanges 231) which areturned in from the edge portions of the added piece to engage theopposite walls of the extension from the band 2|, as illustrated in Fig.3. A central portion of the juxtaposed members are spread apart, asshown at 30, to form an internal cavity 3| which opens forwardly througha reduced .opening 32. A spring 33 is located within the cavity 3|. Theforward end of the spring bears against the forward end of the cavityhaving the reduced opening 32 while the other end of the spring bearsagainst a washer 34 which seats on the end of a band or wire 35 whichextends outwardly through the reduced opening 32. The band 35 overliesand is adapted operatively to engage the outer surface of the upper edgeportion of the face shield 23. vThe opposite end of the band 35 may besimilarly anchored within another cavity `3| formed on the oppositeportion of the supporting band 2|. this manner, the band or wire 35 isconstantly stretched in the endwise direction and establishes resilientengagement with the outer wall of the band 2| or 'face shield member 28,when inposition of use, and whereby the face shield may be held in placeon the curved supporting band 2|. Described more specifically, the'wire35 and spring members 33 provide a resilient member which constantlyurges the face shield against the supporting band thereby to maintainresilient interengagementbetween the parts when the butltons of the faceshield are positioned within'the recessv of the supporting'band. Suchresilient engagement permitsrelative sidewise movement between the parts`to prevent buckling or distortion of the face shield, ,as wouldotherwise be effected 'because of expansions `or cold flow in prior sys-'43 and each of theprojections loperating within 'the longitudinalrecess 26 Aof the curved supporting band 2|-is1inltheform-oa-longitudinal` pro- 26, when in the assembled relation. v When inthe form of a continuous projection that seats within the recess, thewire 35, forming the flexible band.

is adapted to t within the projection 4| to urge the shield in clampingrelation in place-on the curved supporting band 4| whilepermitting-relativelateral movement between the support and the shield.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 is similar to that ofFigure 5 except that the assembly'includes Vav curvilinear strip 45having a projection 46 which corresponds to and is received within theprojection 4| of the face shield. Substantially the same results areobtained by this arrangement except that-the wire or band 3l! isreceived in the recess formed by the projections 46 to press the`stripr45 against the face shield 40 which, in turn, presses theprojections 4| Aofthe face shield into operative engagement with therecess 26 of the supporting band. Each of the elements described in thismodification are able to move endwise relative to each other.

In theform of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 11 inclusive,thecurved supporting band 2| is provided with a guiding ridge 50 andcarries a plurality of pins 5|, such as the three shown in laterallyspaced apart relation. The curved supporting band 2| is provided `with apair of horizontally disposed keyhole slots 52 near its ends.l Theshield member is here designated by the numeral 53. The upper edgeportion of the shield 53, which is adaptedv to engage the outer surfaceof the curved supporting band 2|, is provided with keyhole slots 54 thatcorrespond generally with the keyhole slots 52 in the band 2|; a pair ofelongate slots 55 through which the pins 5| disposed on each side of thecenter pin vare adaptedto extend when in the assembled relation, andanopening 56 through which thecenter pin 5| extends in substantiallyfitting relation. The band for holding the shield in place on the curvedsupport, which is designated by the numeral 51, is formed with a pair ofkeyhole slots 58 which correspond generally to the keyhole correspond tothe slots 55rin the shield and an opening 60 through which the centralpin 5| extends. i v j Each bracket 23 of the supporting band 2| 1sprovided with a boss 62 for; accommodating a coil ls'pringl163forv otherresilientmember. One end of the spring. 63 is secured to the rear wallof ,the boss `62 while the other end is xed to a link -64 thatextendsoutwardly through the suitable yslots 5,2'and 54, a pair ofelongate slots 59 which pin ,'66 is engaged in the keyhole slots, asillustratedin Figure 9, the band 51 constantly urges 'and .resilientlyclamps the shield 53 in place on the' curved support. Although the partsdescribed are incapable of relative movement because of the xed relationestablished at their center by the center pin 5I, relative endwiseadjustment of the associated parts to compensate for cold flow or fordifferences infthermal expansionis permitted since the other pins 5|extend/through slotted portions 55 and 59. The extent of adjustmentbetween the parts is necessarily limited by engagement of the pinwiththe ends-of the slots; however, these are designed to permit thermovement necessary under the expansion and cold flowlthe face shieldmay be in the form of ametal screen 10 or the like, such as illustratedin Figure 15. In such modification, the upper edge portion of the screen10 is xed. as by- `rivets^1|, to a resilient band 12 ofrelatively rigidmaterial 'having'a recess or projection 13 of the typehere.-

tofore described for establishing operative-sliding engagement with therecess 26 provided 3in1 the supporting-head band 2|. Instead of a screenmember, which is particularly well adapted for use as a spark shield,other metallic, plasticyor fabric sheets may be used in various sizes.Such modied shield members need not be transparent throughout theirentire area as opaque-shields may be formed with glass, plastic orscreenlike windows in the shield member at eyev level for visiontherethrough.

Figures 12 to 14r inclusive are detail views showing the connectionbetween the head gear and the supporting band 82 which providesfor`automatic adjustment for retaining proper angular relation of the partsnotwithstanding adjustment of the head gear or modification ofits-angular position as occasioned by fitting thelhead gear to thecontour of the head portion of the person upon which the gear sits whenin position vof use.

As shown, the connector is in the form of an inverted U-shapedstrip oneend of which is fixed, as by laterally spaced rivets 8|, to theadjustable head band 82 which encircles the head and the curvilinearupwardly extending band portion 83 which passes over the cranium ofthevwearer. The free end portion 84 of the connector strip 80 is laterallyoffset and is secured, as b'y a rivet 85 or the like, to a ball member86'which is freely rotatable in all directions within a ball socket 81formed by the inner and outer juxtaposed strips 88 and 89, whichcorrespondtothe elements 2|v and 23 heretofore described. The' innerstrip '89 is `secured in position by downturned end portions 90 of theouter strip 88. The inner strip BQ forms a part of the supporting band2|, heretofore described.

e Thus, when the head gear is adjusted for size and tilted to correspondbetter to the vcurvature of thehead of the wearer, relative tilting andturning movement is permitted between the suptort or buckle theface'shield or make the vunit unfit for the purpose for which it wasintended.

,In accordance with this invention, face shields of various sizes,shapes and `materials may-be -quicklyand easily replaced or interchangedone 4for ,anothertherebyf to adapt the `device for a wide number of usesso that more efficient Yand more 'effective use can be made of a singleunit.

It will -be understood that instead of forming the `recess in thesupporting band for operative engagement by buttons or projections inthe face shieIdmember, the supporting Yband may be provided with suchbuttons or projections while the faceshield member is formed with thereceiving recess or recesses to establish the desired ativeengagement.

It will be further understood that numerous changes may be made in thedetails of construction, arrangement and operation without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the followingclaims.

rI claim: Y Y

1. YIn -a protective `device of the type described, a curvilinearsupport which overlies the forehead of the wearer when in position ofuse, a

- face shield adapted to, be rocked with the support between raised andlowered positions of adjustment whereby the face shield providesaprotective barrier in front of the face of the wearer when in loweredposition of adjustment, interengaging portions on the support vand VtheVupper edge portion of the face shield including an elongate recess inone and a projection in the other whereby the face shield is located 4onthe support in a manner to militate against relative up and downmovement while permitting relative endwise movement when the projectionsare seated within the recess, and means on lsaid support for constantlyurging said'interengaging portions into operative `engagement when inposition of use thereby resiliently to establish the lassembledrelation.

2..In a face shield,;a relatively rigid curved support yadapted tooverlie the forehead of the wearer, a relatively flexible shield havingits upper margin engaging the outer-surface of the curved support andadapted tooverlie the yface of the wearer, =interengaging parts on thesupport and vshield for'locating the-shield in .place on the support butallowing relative longitudinal movement of vthe support and shield', anda resilient band secured at its ends to the support and engaging theouter surface of the upper margin of the shield for resiliently clampingthe shield in place on the support. l

`3. .In a face shield, a relatively rigid curved.v support adapted tooverlie the forehead ofthje wearer, a relatively .flexible shieldhaving' its upper margin engaging the vouter .surface of the curvedsupport and adapted to overlie the face of the wearer, recess meansextending along the outer surface of the `curved supportfprojectionmeans in the uppermargin of the shield engaging in the recess means ofthe support for'lo-l cating the shield in place on thesupportbutallowing relative .longitudinal 'movement of the support and shield, anda resilient band secured at its ends to the support-and engaging theouter surface of the fupper .margin of ftheshieldfor resilientlyclamping Vthe shield-fin lplace on the support. ff

4. In a face shieldga--relatively rigid cur-ved support-adaptedtooverlie-the forehead fofy the wearer, a relatively fiexible shieldhaving its Vupper margin engaging the 'outer surface of the curvedvsupport and adapted to overlie the face of the wearer, a recessextending longitudinally along the outer surface of the curved support,projections extending along the upper margin of the shield and engagingin the recess of the support for locating the shield in place on thesupport but allowing relative longitudinal movement of the support andshield, -and a. resilient band secured at its ends to the support vandengaging the outer surfaceof the upper margin of the shield forresiliently clamping the shield .in place on the support.

5. .In a face shield, a relatively rigid curved support adapted tooverlie the forehead of the wearer, a relatively flexible shield having.its upper margin engaging the outer surface -of the curvedsupport andadapted to overlie the face of the wearer, a recess extendinglongitudinally along .the outer surface of the curved support, aprojection extending longitudinally along the upper margin of the shieldand engaging in the recess of the support forlocating the shield inplace on the support Abut allowing relative .longitudinal movement ofthe support and shield, and a resilient Vband secured at its ends .tothe support and engaging the `outer surface of the upper margin of theshield for .resiliently clampingthe .shield Vin place on the support.

6. -In a face shield, a relatively rigid curved support adapted .tooverlie the forehead of the wearer, .a relativelyv flexible shieldhaving its upper margin engaging the outer surface of the vcurvedsupport vand adapted vto overlie the face of the wearer, interengagingparts Aon the support andshield for locating the shield in place on thesupport but allowing relative .longitudinal movement o f the .supportandshield, a band engaging .the outer surface of the upper margin. ofthe shield,` and're'silient mea-nsfor securing the ends of therband tothe support for resiliently clampingth'e shield in place onthesupport,and a clip slidable; longitudinally along the band for lifting the bandfrom .the outer surface of the shield to permit removal of .the shieldfrom the support.- 7 y 7. In .a face shield, va relatively rigid curvedsupport .adaptedfto overlie the forehead ofthe wearer, a relativelyiiexible shield. having its .upper .margin engaging the outer surface ofthe curved support and .adapted -to overlie the' face of the wearer, aband engaging the outer surface ofthe upper. margin of the shield,interengaglng parts onthe support and shield forlocatng the shield inplace on the'suppor't but allowing relative longitudinal vmovement ofthe supportand shield, and a clipslidable, longitudinally along theband.for liftingjthe band from the outer surface of'the shield to permitAremoval 'of the shield rfrom the support. g

. 3 AYROBERJIMAIIJCIOM, Jg.

REFERENCES CITED i ?UNITED STATES PATENTS Number l Name Date 2,238,994Dockson et 'al Apr. 22,1941 `2,397,722 vBowers e :Apr..2, )19462,406,598 'Flood Aug. 27, 1946 Malcom Mar. 28, 1950

